Stall Confinement
October 25, 2012
What’s better for horse health? To stall or not to stall?
When it comes to stalling your horse in the winter, there are a few things to consider. Journal photo.
By Dr. Thomas R. Lenz in The American Quarter Horse Journal
Cold weather is here, and with it comes the annual discussion between my wife and me on whether or not to stall our horses at night. My wife and I are both veterinarians, but we have completely different views on the benefits vs. consequences of stalling our horses.
I grew up on a farm in central Missouri where our horses were pastured year round unless they were injured or foaling. My wife grew up in a small city in southern Oklahoma where her horses were stalled most of the time with daily turnout in a paddock. She believes they are healthier and happier stalled; I believe they’re better off pastured. Of course, I always lose the debate, but the discussion continues every year.
Like equine welfare, our view of what housing options are best for our horses are based on our life experiences and information we’ve gathered over time. Many horse owners prefer to stall their horses to protect them from inclement weather or prevent the horse’s hair coat from bleaching out. Stalled horses are able to eat without other horses interfering, which is especially important for young, timid or geriatric horses. Confinement keeps the horse convenient and ready to ride, as opposed to pastured horses, which might take longer to catch. And finally, the horse might be recovering from an injury or could be a stallion that can’t be safely turned out with other horses.
Interested in learning more about your horse’s health? Download AQHA’s Common Horse Health Issues report today to get started!
So if you are showing horses, standing stallions or just believe horses are healthier and happier stalled, here are a few things you should consider to keep them content and healthy.
Horses exposed to dust from feed and bedding or other irritating sources such as diesel or gas exhaust have an increased incidence of inflammatory airway disease, commonly referred to as “heaves.” Therefore, it is critical that not only the barn, but each stall has good ventilation and ample air changes per minute. Most stalls have grills that allow air flow through the upper half of the stall, but have solid walls below that trap dust and stale air. This is especially critical for foals that are shorter and confined to the dead air space of the lower half of the stall or horses that are sleeping.
To minimize dust, use high-quality, low-dust bedding and hay. Clean stalls of manure and urine-soaked bedding twice daily if possible. Minimize activities that stir up dust, such as sweeping, raking or riding. Consult with a barn design expert to make sure you have an effective stall ventilation program, as merely placing fans above stalls seldom provides good ventilation.
Recent research has shown that stall confinement is associated with the majority of impaction colics. Of course, feeding high-concentrate diets, making sudden changes in feeding programs and limited access to clean water are also significant causes. If a horse must be confined, minimize the amount of grain fed, allow free choice to good-quality hay and provide the opportunity to exercise to reduce not only the incidence of colic, but also the incidence of impaction colics.
We care about your horse’s health just as much as you do! Download the Common Horse Health Issues report today to learn about other illnesses that could affect him.
Horses are social animals and experience a number of behavioral problems when isolated and confined. They also have a strong need to exercise and can become increasingly frustrated when not allowed daily free exercise. Many behavior studies have found that the prevention of movement (exercise), social interaction with other horses and grazing causes horses to develop behavior problems such as weaving and cribbing. They also have a tendency to misbehave during handling, training or trailer loading, which can lead to injuries to the horse, as well as its handler or rider.
If you stall your horses, consider the effect this situation might have on their general health and emotional state. Explore alternatives to balance confinement time with turnout, exercise and grazing time to optimize their health and performance.
Dr. Thomas R. Lenz is a trustee of the American Horse Council, is chairman of AQHA’s research committee and is a past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
Comments
22 Comments on “Stall Confinement”
Add a Comment
October 25th, 2012 at 6:01 am
Thank you Dr. Lenz for the info. Both you and your wife are right. Right now I have to stall my horse. I too am leary of heaves, I clean his stall every day. I can only go over once, but give him a good cleaning and put fresh bedding.He has a paddock he can go out in, get fresh air, but sometimes I have to close him in b/c of the wind blowing the rain in his stall. I live in Oregon and the weather is very unpredictable. I have a blanket for him, so he can go out with out being chilled. He has good immunity, only been sick twice in his 5 yrs. Have good hay.
October 25th, 2012 at 6:25 am
Due to space problems on our 5 acres and keeping a stallion and broodmares, we stall him and 5 horses that we are riding, training and/or showing. They are stalled year-round and allowed turnout time daily, usually with a buddy (except the stallion). We clean our stalls 3 times a day and feed high quality alfalfa hay 3 times a day so that they get small amounts more frequently. They appear happy, but I too struggle with the debate of outside living vs. inside living. Some of them have been inside most of their lives and would probably stand at the gate waiting to come back in. We all do the best we can to ensure quality of life for our horses. What is hard is trying to figure out what they would prefer.
October 25th, 2012 at 6:32 am
We have turn out almost all year long on. The barn is open, so the two mares can go in and out of their stalls at will. Stalls are open air and horses can see each other easily while in their stall. When choosing not to be in their stall, they can go out to a six acre pasture area. There are a couple of other shelters available too. Since I am in Iowa, it can get truly cold and blizzards can happen. During deeply extreme weather, I stall them and shut all the barn doors. I even blanket my long-haired horses for a few days during deep, deep cold snaps. (Especially when we had one geriatric mare.) Next to the barn is a sand lot 75 x 100 feet. Horses are sometimes locked in here if we have a great deal of rain, and I wish to lessen impact on the pasture. They still can go in and out of the barn to their stall. Because wind is and issue, we have two inside-out tractor tires in which to feed hay. These work well. Hay stays clean. Each horse has their own tire, so dominance over food is not a problem. This is also where hay is fed through the winter. Obviously, we are not a show barn. I ride almost every day, however, during good weather. Horses are easy to catch. Manes and tails are certainly not perfect, but I don’t think my horses care. With our good safe fencing, we rarely see the vet for illness or accident. We are all pretty happy with our little set up here.
October 25th, 2012 at 6:52 am
My horses live out 24/7 and they have shelters for those cold and damp days, we are up here in Ontario Canada, so our winters can see lots of mixed bag of weather, on those really cold damp nights I put mine away into there stalls and close up the top doors, there stall are direct access to the out side, so when they do get locked up in there stalls on those cool damp nights they like to hang there heads out,I find my girls are happier if they are out side, they go to there stalls at feeding time and then they have access to hay out side 24/7
there are pros and cons but it works for me
October 25th, 2012 at 8:06 am
Once we get some pasture here in Ontario, Canada my horses are out for the summer on pasture with me checking up on them twice daily. Once we get the winter weather they are moved to the smaller pasture up by the barn and are brought in at night to be fed and then let out to the field again in the morning for the day. The only other time through the winter when they are kept in stalls is when we have freezing rain as this is more for safety reasons ( more my worry for injury)and as soon as possible they are back out for the day until night feeding comes around. People always ask why they look so good and I tell them it’s because I try to let them be horses and not just pampered pets. Like Steve said I would probably let them stay out but I don’t have the option of having portable shelter outside so they come in at night and spend as much time as possible in the winter outside. I don’t blanket either as I feel they need to winter up and I’ve seen too many with wet blankets on and wonder if the owners really think that is keeping their animals warm. Better a wet coat they can shake off. By the way I’ve been lucky I guess as they are hardly ever in need of Vet care for health issues so I must be doing something right.
October 25th, 2012 at 9:35 am
I’m with Dianne. My horses are out 24/7, most of the Spring, all of the Summer and well into the Fall. I live in western NY, not far from the Canadian border and we do get some crazy weather off the Great Lakes. During the winter, they come in every night. They can see and hear each other. They are usually out by 6:30 in the morning and stay out all day. During any season, they’ll be brought in when we get weather alerts for severe thunderstorms, high winds, freezing rain and definitely for blizzard conditions. We don’t use blankets. We want them to ‘teddy bear’ up. We try to provide a natural environment for them, but will provide shelter whenever it is deemed necessary for the safety of the horses.
October 25th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
I would love to have my horses out 24/7 and during some of the summer this is possible. I live in Oregon like the other Janet. My issue is mud. Once it starts raining here it never stops and the mud is up to their hocks until July! So, once it starts raining my horses are in 24/7 and stalls cleaned twice a day. I bed with shavings because my stalls are not matted and can’t afford to do so. I have 4 horses on about an acre so dry stalls are a must. I consider it a luxury to have pasture you can use year round. We all try to do what is best for our horses in our unique situations.
October 25th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
I, too, live in Oregon, but in the high desert of Central Oregon. Mud is not an issue. I like my horse to live like a horse and he’s out 24/7 with access to a shelter or trees if he so desires. I also do not blanket as I like him to grow a good coat to get comfortably through the winters here. He has other horses to buddy up with if he wants to. He’s 9 and in good flesh. Seeing horses stalled 24/7, 365 year after year just makes me sad for the horse. I’d go stir crazy, too.
October 25th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
I think that when Dr. Lenz says,”our view of what housing options are best for our horses are based on our life experiences and information we’ve gathered over time” he’s hit the nail on the head. We tend to do what we’ve grown up seeing as ‘normal’.
I have owned horses in Eastern Canada, the Prairies (Saskatchewan) and now in British Columbia. Each location had its own particular ‘bad weather’. Wet & cold in the east, -50 and windy in the middle and windy/snowy in the BC mountains. My own observation is that, given the opportunity, horses are smart enough to seek shelter – whether it be a barn, a shed or a thicket of trees – when THEY decide they need to. I’ve watched them nonchalantly stand out in weather I think is terrible, with rain bucketing down on them – or hunker together BESIDE the shelter on a sunny, but windy, winter day. Their idea of ‘bad weather’ doesn’t always match mine, so I let them choose by giving them free access to a good shelter and, at the very least, a small paddock to walk around in – depending where I’ve lived, it’s been a big pasture. However,I daresay if I had been raised around a racetrack, or some such, I’d think my current practices were totally out to lunch and would be stalling them instead. I had a friend whose horses would wait outside the barn door and happily go into their stalls when she let them in.
To those who have no pasture available,I would point out that, I know of many people whose horses spend all their time as pasture ornaments. At least those who are stalling their animals interact with them everyday. I’m sure the pasture ornaments think life is just fine most of the time, but then what’s really the point in having them?
Surely, a balance between accessibility to, and freedom for, the horse is what needs to be found. You just do the best you can.
October 25th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Another Oregonian weighing in. Southern Oregon here, in the Applegate valley. We have wonderful pasture, about eight acres for three horses, so our horses (and goats) can be out all day and eat grass year-round. During inclement weather, they have a large run-in as part of the barn plus we open up the inside of the barn and have hay feeders scattered around for them to use. They can choose to stay inside or go out (only exception is weather extremes, really severe blizzard, thunderstorms, etc., when I will keep them inside). It works very well. There are also two very large shelters out in the pastures for them to use. At night, winter, summer, no matter the season, all my animals come in for the night. Usually as soon as it gets dark. Several reasons for that–we have cougar and bear and coyotes around here, and I don’t want them out after dark. Bringing them in also allows me to feed them individualized supplements as needed as well as monitor how much hay they get according to their varying weights at the time. Overall, they seem very happy with this arrangement, I feel they are protected at night, and they have a lot of freedom all day to do what they want. Our ground is ridden with rocks, so very little mud. In Ashland, where we lived for several years, mud was a huge problem so we had dry lot areas for them to use in winter time. I agree with the comments about it being dependent on unique situations. I’ve lived in regions where I could leave my horses out all night, but I’m not sure I’d do that now. As you say, it depends on experience, and mine is that my horses are safer and garner less injuries doing it this way. Btw, I only use rain sheets or medium weight turnout sheets in very extreme conditions or if/when a horse has a cough and seems to need the extra support. So there’s my two cents, and the comments prove there’s often no one ‘right’ answer to any situation.
October 25th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
I live in Central Michigan and have two mares that are left out 24/7, 365. They have heavy duty blankets for the winter and access to shelter for rainy/snowy/windy days. We lived at a place with a nice barn for a while, but neither one of them enjoyed being stalled at all for any period of time really. They seem happier this way and quite content, so I figure why change up a good thing?
October 25th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
What an intereting topic. I have keep horses in at night in the past, but for the last 10 years have had them running in and out of their stalls. This has worked very well for me, even in our climate in southern Quebec Canada, where we get very cold windy winters. My old Morgan mare is 28 years young and thriving in this program. She has no coughs or lameness. She and my 6 year old paint gelding go out in weather I would never turn them out in. They do wear rainsheets and turn-out rugs as needed. They are given free choice minerals and salt year round and hay as needed, to supplement their grass. I am certain that my mare is as sound and healthy as she is because of being out 24/7. After seeing how happy and healthy they are, I would not go back to stalling and turn-out.
October 25th, 2012 at 7:54 pm
Great topic! I have an 18 yr old Quarter Horse gelding & a 21 yr Standardbred mare. In Michigan, the weather can be harsh. I have a large pole barn divided in hlf, one for hay & storage & the other 1/2 for the horses. They have free-run of their half. They are given their feed IN the barns but when I supplement hay & the weather is good, they eat out. They have approx 8-9 acres to graze & roam with pastures & woods. Like I’ve read in some of the preceding comments, they stand out in some of the most horrible weather & in those times I do winter feedings in the barn. BUT when it’s 10 degrees & the sun is shining, they love to eat out & soak up the sun. Because of their age, I do wonder at times about blanketing. My vet & I discuss it alot & I feel we’ll do what’s best at the time. My horses are healthy, happy, & no matter where they are, they’ll come to me when I give our “special whistle”! I’ve always had “range” horses & have found that thhis works best for us!
October 26th, 2012 at 9:15 am
In deep south Texas, our horses will often lay flat out under a 100-degree + afternoon sun – temps that cause heat stroke in humans. I think they should be napping in the shade, but they are soaking it up. . . . I recently read the story of Elmer Bandit, the QH/Arabian endurance champion, who lived every day of his 38-year-long life in the pasture. He also competed in endurance races until age 37! I would have been tempted to “pamper” this guy as he hit senior years and keep him in a stall, but maybe pasture life was one reason for his longevity.
October 26th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Well, I have done both. And both methods have worked very well. Currently they are staying out 24/7, no feed or hay! They are fat as ticks and happy. I feed them a little when I ride but that is all. Due to financial concerns, I decided to cut back on feed and this is what I came up with. We have 40 acres of lush grass and only 3 horses, so there is plenty of a variety of grass, including a hay meadow. The only thing wrong with this set up, is if I do need to keep them up. Don’t like going from “wet” grass only, to dry hay and feed (Senior and Ultium). That’s a total shock to their system. But sometimes it has to happen. So I try to minimize the shock by acclimating slowly with as much turn out as possible. At that point, they get turned out one at a time, which means that one horse goes out day, and one goes out at night. They have very large runs attached to stalls, so they’re never actually trapped in a stall at all. So they are up at most 24 hours at a time with this method. Which seems to be working well. Not going to do blankets this winter either. Will probably start those in Feb to get ready for show season. I don’t ever blanket or stall one to keep them warm, they enjoy the cold much more than we do. The reason I blanket is to keep clean, shed off, and keep tails looking nice, therefore all my blankets have tail flaps too. So far,so good! But, keeping them up at night in winter or up during the day in the summer worked fine too. I’m a 27 years vet tech and can appreciate the debate. I have saved so much $$ on feed and hay this way! Use about 30 bales at most, of hay per year. No feed expenses at all. And I don’t worry about them at all, in fact much less with them out. Even tho we have hunters around us, I just check them daily, and they stay around the barn alot too. Lot less poop to scoop too! Might try it if you have the acreage. By the way, that was this summer with the drought conditions. We just have plenty of grass for only three horses.
October 27th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
I always enjoy articles such as this one. My horses have open stalls and can come and go as they please. However, authors lose me with statements telling me to consult with a barn design specialist. Like everyday people can afford it.
October 28th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
I live in the Nevada high desert, and we get all 4 seasons. My horses are turned out all year round. The only time they are confined is injury, sickness, or dietary management (I have two extremely well keepers). My horses were all raised on the high desert from foals until I bought them, they know how to stand together to keep warm and, how to grown a polar bear coat. Not all horses could handle it, but mine can so why mess with the natural flow of things.
October 29th, 2012 at 8:34 pm
Horses are made to live outside and a whole lot happier outside. Granted you can teach a horse to like it in a stall because it is familiar and feels safe, but it is not natural. Horses are physically designed and created to run. They can’t run in a stall. We say let them be horses like they were meant to be. We live in Oklahoma where it is hot in the Summer and cold in the Winter. Our horses handle it with run in shelters and plenty of good hay and fresh water. We don’t blanket them as they grow coats to keep them warm. We simply disagree with stalls in a barn.
October 30th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
Have owned Quarter Horses all my life, all horses are happier if they are allowed to choose when they want to be inside, never owned a horse that preferred to be stall kept. They are happier and healthier outside as Mother Nature intended, people keep horses in stalls because it’s more convenient for them, and in some cases safer for their horses. We have a Stallion who was raised in a pasture with three geldings, and still stays pastured with them, he behaves as a gelding, and we’ve never had any problems out of him. He is happy and well rounded, and unbelievably well behaved. I would recommend this method for anyone who is raising a Stallion. Cathie Thomas, Mills River, North Carolina.
October 30th, 2012 at 8:01 pm
I too live in Oregon. I have 9 acres and still must use the paddocks in the rainy periods as the rain and mud will ruin the pastures if my horses were on it all day. I add 3/4 minus gravel to the paddocks every other year to keep them maintained. We have a huge round pen for winter exercise and for the horses with energy to burn. Our 25 year old is the most active followed by his 22 year old sister, both run in the round pen every day. Our 7 year old is the least likely to run and has to be worked as she can get fat! All 5 horses are in at night, stalled in 15 by 15 stalls with slow-feed bags of alfalfa orchard mix hay for the night. The stalls have floor mats and I use pelleted bedding topped with shavings for comfort and ease of cleaning. All the horses wait by the gates to come in.
I feed limited grain and then only a senior mix to my senior horses. They all eat hot cereal, wheat bran with added salt, 2 times a week Oct. to May. On turnout they all wear a no fill rain jacket. They stay clean and dry and all have beautiful manes and tails.
October 31st, 2012 at 9:36 am
I’m going back and forth on this one. I have a 20 year old gelding that’s been at my brothers barn for 4 years. He doesn’t act or look that old and is an easy keeper. We finally have our house built and we are almost done with our loafing shed – 26′X14′. We have about 5 acres of pasture. We were going to move him over here along with an 8 year old mare. She’s used to being outside, but my guy is used to being in the barn at night and in bad weather. It’s getting late in the year and you never know what kind of winter we will have here. Due to circumstances, I don’t know if I can get the barn built before the snow starts flying, so I’m worried about him being out and just having the shed for shelter. I’m told he should be fine, but if he’s not been used to it, I’m worried he’ll have a hard time adjusting. My brother wants to downsize, so I will feel bad if I ask him to keep him for another winter, but I also want to do the right thing for my guy. I’m making myself crazy…….
November 5th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Horses are always happier if they can choose for themselves. Our 3 horses ages 12, 22, & 23 prefer to be outdoors 99% of the time. We have a large loafing area inside our pole barn for them to come in as they please. They are pastured from Mid-April to Early November. They are still out even now (Nov.5)because of good pasture and mild temps, and as plump as ticks ready for our Minnesota winter. Once I make them come up for the winter, (probably next week) they have a large protected outside loafing area next to the barn where I feed them. They always prefer to eat outside in the sunshine on the ground and not from their indoor feeders which only get used if it’s raining/sleeting, or snowing too hard. During the pastured months, they even prefer to drink from our pond rather than from the stock tank which is in the barn. And we never need blankets.